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John Grevich, 94

John J. Grevich of Star Prairie, Wis., died Sunday, Sept. 22, at Westfield Hospital in New Richmond, Wis., at the age of 94.

John was born in Mt. Iron, Minn., on March 24, 1919, to Matthew and Mande (Uremovic) Grevich. John married Marjorie (Johnson) Grevich which union lasted for 62 years.

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John attended schools in northern Minnesota and later entered Eveleth Junior college and eventually won a full scholarship to Hamline University in St. Paul. After graduating, he joined the U.S. Air Force in hopes of flying but was asked instead to work in a government-run Air Force factory manufacturing hollow steel propellers for airplanes. He joined Doboy Industries in 1948, and a short time later became division engineer. At the start of his employment the company only employed a handful of people. By the time he retired in 1986, 600 people had jobs at the New Richmond factory. With each of Grevichs patents, more employees were needed at Doboy. John worked his way up to vice president and during this time, developed quite a few machines. He holds at least 20 patents signed over to Doboy with his last patent March 14, 2013. John was not only a successful inventor but a generous man who donated to many charities. He also had a passion for elk, pheasant, and moose hunting, as well as fishing, gardening, traveling, and flying his plane.

He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; son Walter & daughter-in-law Sandra Larson Grevich; sisters, Anne Jarvi, Mary Linder, Katherine Wallen, and Helen Super; and brother, Mike Grevich.